picrews for RPG games

Icon made with the tiefling maker picrew by crowesn. Picrews in the banner (left to right) are from sixteen bee, makowka, djarn, Maria Blowers, astrolavas and beedee.

[picrews-for-rpgs]

Tagging Guide

I created this blog to make it easier to find picrews with specific features (e.g. horns, tusks) for the purpose of making D&D (and other TTRPG) characters.

After some thought I have decided to tag fantasy features rather than fantasy races.

This is slightly more efficient because some features (e.g. pointed ears) apply to many races.

Here is a list of fantasy-specific tags I'll be using, along with an example of some races with those features.

Animal features (fauns, firbolgs, catgirls)

Aquatic features (gills, scales, fins etc.)

Fangs (vampires, werewolves)

Horns (tieflings, satyrs, fauns)

Pointed Ears (elves, halflings, gnomes)

Tail (tieflings, catgirls)

Tusks (orcs, half-orcs)

Unnatural skintones (genasi, tieflings)

Wings (fairies, aasimar)

Here is a non-exhaustive list of general (not fantasy-specific) tags I'll be using

Afrocentric features (decent afrocentric options for hair etc)

Animal Companion

Body hair

Disability Aids

Facial hair

Heterochromia (each eye a different colour)

Historical (more than 3 historical/not obviously modern clothing options)

Masc (suitable for creating male and masculine characters)

Muscular

Plus sized (larger body types)

Skin details (scars, freckles, vitiligo, beauty marks, birthmarks and more)

Recommendations

Changelings - Part 1

Dwarves - Part 1 - Part 2

Eladrin - Part 1

Fairies - Part 1

Goliaths - Part 1 - Part 2 - Part 2.5

Gorgons (Medusa) - Part 1

Mousefolk - Part 1 - Part 2

Orcs/Half-Orcs - Part 1

Vampires - Part 1 - Part 2

Yuan-Ti - Part 1

Additional Note

Please do let me know if there are specific classes/races/genres/themes you'd like recommendations for!

[picrews-for-rpgs]

Big Boy OC Maker by DarksStars

Features

1 body type and 2 (very similar) face shapes.

A wide range of natural skin tones and a handful of unnatural ones (blue, green, red, purple-black and grey).

4 ear shapes including 3 pointed and a few pointed teeth options.

5 horn options.

Skin details including freckles, wrinkles and scars (but these can only be applied to the face, not the body unfortunately)

A variety of hair options but little to none that are afrocentric or curly.

Limited facial accessories including glasses, face masks and eye patches.

A variety of facial hair.

No body hair, tattoos, piercings, disability aids or fantasy clothing options.

Recommended for

Humans

Tieflings

Elves/Half Elves

Half Orcs

[picrews-for-rpgs]

Couple Maker by Kanahani

Features

Two body type options for each character

A variety of natural and unnatural skin tones (darkest and lightest shown on top right)

3 ear shapes (not including 3 animal ear options which are in a separate section and can be used instead of or as well as regular ears)

13 horn options including antlers

3 halo and 4 tail options

Skin details including freckles, moles, vitiligo, scars (including top surgery scars) and blush.

Some facial hair options.

A handful of afrocentric hair options (curls, locs and braids)

Limited, modern-leaning clothing options.

3 backgrounds and various filters.

Recommended for

Humans

Elves

Tieflings

[picrews-for-rpgs]

This might be a hard one, but are there any picrews that I could use to make an Aarakocra (the humanoid bird race)?

Hi! You are maybe the sixth or seventh person who has sent me an ask requesting aarakocra recommendations so please know I am working on it!

It's taking some time but it is definitely on the list.

In the meantime please consider searching the "animal features" and "wings" tags on this blog.

Also off the top of my head I know Cute DnD Character Creator and Fantasy Icon Maker have both wing and beak options so might work for birdfolk.

[picrews-for-rpgs]

A little update on requests

I'm always happy to receive requests for specific features or creatures, however I just want to set expectations that if you do send me an ask it might take a while for me to get to it!

Part of the reason for this is that I work full-time and have a busy life so there's only so much time I can dedicate to this blog. But also I try to thoroughly research before responding to requests so I can give the best recommendations possible and create example picrews that effectively demonstrate the desired features.

This takes quite a bit of time already and I currently have 30 pending requests to get through.

I would also just like to add that I have received several requests now for aarocokra/birdfolk and warforged/robots. These are clearly in-demand so please know I'm already working on these and recommendation posts for them are upcoming.

Thanks to everyone who enjoys and supports this blog. I do really appreciate your feedback.

[picrews-for-rpgs]

Do you have suggestions for changelings? White skin, solid color eyes, pointed ears? I've struggled with finding picrews with actually white skin and solid colored eyes.

Hi! Thanks for the ask. (I'm also tagging @theawkwardbutterfly 'cause I know you wanted changeling recs too!)

Here are my Top 5 picks for making changelings:

Tiefling Maker by Crowesn

Picrew overview here

White Skin ✅ Solid-colour Eyes ✅ Pointed Ears ✅

One of my all-time favourite picrews for a reason, this tiefling maker has everything on your checklist and so much more! It has 3 androgynous body types to choose from (with options to add cleavage, an adam's apple, neither or both!) and 8 face shapes!

One of my favourite things about this picrew is the skin details, so if you'd like to keep your changeling's skin pristine and unmarked you can do that but if you, like me, like to add subtle interest you can apply subtle grey blush and vitiligo like I've done in the example images. There are also scars, wrinkles, freckles, facial hair and goliath-esque markings, all of which can be layered over each other. Clothing options are versatile and there are some great accessories too!

Fantasy OC Maker 4000 by stuffjademade

Picrew overview here

White Skin ✅ Solid-colour Eyes ✅ Pointed Ears ✅

Another super versatile character maker specifically targeted towards fantasy OCs this picrew also has 3 androgynous body types to choose from (with options to add cleavage, an adam's apple, neither or both) and 8 face shapes. It also has tons of skin details including scars, bruises, make up and wrinkles but one of my favourite things about this one is the huge range of beautiful high fantasy accessories, weapons and animal companions. A really fantastic option for wizards, warlocks and rangers in particular.

TS Fantasy Icon Maker by trifling shadows

Picrew overview here

White Skin ✅ Solid-colour Eyes ✅ Pointed Ears ✅

This picrew doesn't have different body types but considering it's only head and shoulders anyway, it makes up for it with it's 6 face shapes. Skin details include facial hair, scars, wrinkles and vitiligo all of which can be layered on top of each other and there's a good range of high fantasy backgrounds, clothing and accessories to choose from. The facial features, face shapes and other details are varied enough that this picrew can be used for feminine, masculine or androgynous characters.

Fantasy Character Maker by deerinspotlight

Picrew overview here

White Skin ✅ Solid-colour Eyes ✅ Pointed Ears ✅

Continuing the trend of androgyny (particularly appropriate for changelings) this picrew has 2 gender-neutral body types to choose from and 3 face shapes. It has tons of options for skin details like scars and wrinkles and a good range of high fantasy/historical clothing and accessories including a couple of animal companions!

Build a bastard by warmonger

Picrew overview here

White Skin ✅ Solid-colour Eyes ✅ Pointed Ears ❎

Only one gender-neutral body type for this one but it somewhat makes up for it with 7 face shapes to choose from. This picrew is greyscale so if you want to make a changeling who dresses in colourful clothing or accessories this might not be the best choice. However the options for pure white skin and hair and solid colour eyes work really well for changelings. Clothing choices lean a little modern but there are options that work for high fantasy and historical settings too.

***

That's it for now folks, but there were quite a few others that I found while researching this that also work pretty well so I'll probably follow up with a Part 2 soon.

[picrews-for-rpgs]

Fantasy Icon Maker by quiet sylph (overview)

Features

5 natural skintones and 8 unnatural (only 1 face shape and body type)

Customisable pupils and sclera

3 pointed ear options and also wing and fin ears

Hairstyles are unfortunately pretty limited with no afrocentric or curly hair options

A handful of options for skin details like scars and freckles

Cat ears, horns and antlers

There are clothing options that could work for modern or historical but overall I'd say most are fantasy leaning

Recommended for

Elves (especially drow)

Halflings

Goblins

Changelings

Cat-people

[mzcain27]

I think game studios should just release their character creators online. For the times when I don’t wanna play the whole game, just the lil dress up part

[picrews-for-rpgs]

Do you have any good picrews for changelings?

Hi! Funnily enough I'm actually halfway through compiling a changeling recommendation list in response to another ask (and I was literally in the middle of making an example picrew for it when I got the notification for this message) so watch this space! You should be seeing that changeling rec list quite soon but in the meantime I'd recommend checking out the "unnatural skintones" and "vampire" tags on my blog for pure white skintones and solid colour eyes.

[picrews-for-rpgs]

RE: Goliath Recommendations

In the TWO recommendation posts I made for goliaths recently (which you can see here and here) I somehow overlooked one of my all-time favourite picrews which would be absolutely perfect??

Tiefling Maker by Crowesn

Grey Skin ✅ Markings ✅ Muscles ✅ Bald ✅

This baby has two grey skintones and multiple options for facial (and body) markings (several of which closely resemble goliath official art) that can be layered over each other.

There are tons of great options for historical and high fantasy clothing and accessories as well as tons of skin details which don't interfere with the facial markings e.g. wrinkles, freckles and scars.

Some bonus features include heterochromia and facial piercings but possibly most significantly there are three (gender neutral) body types to chose from including two larger bodied/wider shouldered as seen above.

My one very minor gripe with this picrew as a recommendation for goliaths is that there are no fully rounded ear options; they're all pointed. BUT some people like to give their goliaths pointed ears anyway and if your goliath has hair you can use it to cover the ears if they bother you.

EDIT: Please ignore the previous paragraph! As kindly brought to my attention by the wonderful @icyheart-and-friends there are in fact rounded ear options and I've now updated the righthand example image to reflect this (I missed this originally cos it's about halfway down the ear options instead of at the start like I'm used to seeing in other picrews)

@awperhand please consider this alongside my other recommendations.

[picrews-for-rpgs]

Still working on those asks friends 💪

(also I've had several requests now for birdfolk so just to let you know I hear you and I'm working on it promise)

[picrews-for-rpgs]

Do you have any picrew suggestions with snake hair options for gorgons?

Hi! I know this is quite an old ask (sorry for taking so long to reply) but I've now made a recommendations post for gorgons which you can see here.

[picrews-for-rpgs]

Do you by any chance have reccomendations on picrews that let you remove the eyes of a character? I'm trying to design a character for a upcoming campaign but they're from a race that has no eyes (like at all) and its hard to find any!

Hi! Thanks for the ask. I hope this reply isn't too late to be useful for your campaign. I actually have tons of suggestions for picrews that let you create characters without eyes! I've put a selection here that I think are quite versatile but if this race has any other distinctive features I can try to tailor my recommendations more specifically.

Avatar Maker V2 by Baydews (left) and Fantasy OC Creator by Cilantro Studios (right)

Fantasy Hero Maker by Tepkunset (left) and avatar maker ii by fiamazzura (right)

RPG Character Maker by sixteenbee (left) and RPG Husband Generator by Drudenkreuz (right)

Black Centered Picrew by Naylissah (left) and Remnant Years Avatar Maker by eva.rabbit (right)

Loserwithanartacc's Picrew by imakeart (left) and friend maker by pepperjackets (right)

[picrews-for-rpgs]

hi! do you know of any good picrews for goliaths? many existing picrews lack options for body markings. thanks!

Hi! I've actually been compiling these for forever and it's been such a challenge but I've just posted my top 5 picrew recommendations for goliaths here!

I'm going to use this ask as an opportunity though to share some picrews that could work but didn't quite make the cut to be included in the main recommendation post:

Cute DnD Character Creator by Rogue Cat Designs

Grey Skin ✅ Markings ✅ Muscles ❎ Bald ✅

Pros

This is a rarely seen full-body creator specifically aimed at making D&D characters so it has tons of high fantasy clothing and accessory options and even animal companions! It's gender neutral so can be used to make masculine, feminine or androgynous characters.

Cons

The facial markings available here are a bit different from the ones traditionally seen in official art of goliaths but the main issue with this creator is that the one body type is nowhere close to muscular and doesn't exactly scream "descended from giants" Conclusion Would work super well for a child (or maybe a half-goliath?) as long as you're open to a less traditional take on the facial markings.

Sci-Fi Fantasy Portrait Maker by Sophronist

Grey Skin ❎ Markings ✅ Muscles ❎ Bald ✅

Pros

Really decent range of markings to choose from which can be layered over each other so you can customise the markings on each part of the face. Nice and gender-neutral too.

Cons

Muscles aren't so much a concern here IMO as these are only head-and-shoulder portraits. The bigger concern is that there aren't really any true grey skintone options. The skintone shown on the right is debatably closer to black (though that might just be my PC monitor tbf) and the one on the left is a white skintone + shadows.

Conclusion

This picrew should work great for a dark skinned goliath of any gender.

Black Centered Picrew by Naylissah

Grey Skin ✅ Markings ✅ Muscles ❎ Bald ✅

Pros

I recommend this picrew all the time for its great range of options across all areas but in terms of goliaths I think these markings and this grey skin tone work pretty well!

Cons

The drawback of this picrew in terms of making goliath characters (apart from the usual lack of muscular options) is that it just has the one grey skintone and only one option for markings too (though they can be repositioned on the face as shown above)

Conclusion

Best suited for a female or feminine goliath with simple facial markings.

OC Creator by maetheellen

Grey Skin ✅ Markings ✅ Muscles ❎ Bald ✅

Pros

A choice of two grey skintones (though they are very similar), a good range of scars and these cool facial markings.

Cons

Much like Naylissah's Black Centered Picrew, the issue with this picrew is that while there's one really good option for facial markings, it's also the only option.

Conclusion

If you think these facial markings would work well for your goliath character, this picrew could be ideal for you.

[picrews-for-rpgs]

Goliath Picrew Recommendations

Goliaths are a 5e playable race descended from giants, characterised by their large frames, grey, stone-like skin and markings on their face and body. They are also usually depicted as bald and clean shaven.

With that in mind, here are some goliath-appropriate picrews with one or more of the following features:

✅ Grey skin

✅ Face and body markings

✅ Large/muscular frames

✅ Baldness

RPG Husband Generator by Drudenkreuz

Grey Skin ✅ Markings ✅ Muscles ✅ Bald ✅

Always a go-to picrew for muscular characters, the RPG Husband Generator is naturally suited to a typical goliath's big, muscular frame and also offers body markings, baldness and a good variety of high fantasy clothing and accessories.

Create a Cambion by Kenzie Crow

Grey Skin ✅ Markings ✅ Muscles ✅ Bald ✅

While technically designed for demons and cambions, Create a Cambion is surprisingly versatile and one of the few picrews out there which offer grey skin AND face markings (in either black or white). The body options aren't large but they at least have visible muscle definition.

Witchcrew by malachitinous

Grey Skin ✅ Markings ✅ Muscles ❎ Bald ✅

This picrew is a great option for female or androgynous goliaths. While none are noticeably muscular, it offers 3 body types and features a good variety of face markings in different colours.

Fantasy Icon Maker by triflingshadows

Grey Skin ✅ Markings ✅ Muscles ❎ Bald ✅

Another that's a little lacking in size/muscle but great for variety of markings. It also offers more than one shade of grey which is always nice.

Fantasy OC Creator by Cilantro Studios

Grey Skin ✅ Markings ✅ Muscles ❎ Bald ✅

Once again this falls into the category of bald and grey but not muscular. The facial markings are very simple on this one and unfortunately can't be layered together but there are a few different choices for them. The skintones include several shades of grey though and good options for fantasy and historical clothing.

_____________________

That's it for now but please let me know if there are any picrews I missed that are good for goliaths! I've been compiling these for half a year and I'm still not completely happy with them (it really surprised me how hard it is to find picrews with facial markings like these!)

[picrews-for-rpgs]

Could you guys do a list for gorgon picrews/snake hair picrews?? Pls it's so hard to find a good one

Hi! I am just one singular guy unfortunately lol so sorry this has taken forever to respond to (this also applies to the other 30 messages sitting in my ask box sorry)

Unfortunately I don't know any that would work well for male/masculine characters (though some of the following could work, especially if the character is very young)

Here are some recs that come to mind!

Loserwithanartacc's Picrew by Imakeart

Pros

Additional snakey features including scales and fangs

Disability aid options like wheelchairs

Tons of options for skin details like scars, freckles, tattoos, make up and more

The best in this list for making an adult and/or masculine character (no snakey facial hair though sadly)

Cons

Only one snakey hair option and colour options are quite limited

Clothing options are modern leaning

Two body types but they're very similar and both slim

OC Maker by ShyCustis

Pros

The only one on the list with a chubbier face shape/body type and the ability to make your character look older by adding wrinkles

Additional snakey details including scales, fangs and a forked little tongue

Great choice of fantasy and historical clothing

Cons

The snake hair is only available as one solid colour

Medusa Maker by しいむし

Pros

This picrew is specifically for making gorgons/Medusa so the hair options are amazing

It also has lots of cool snakey eye options

Cons

Only one face shape/body type and it's very small and slender

Clothing is again pretty modern leaning

Really not much in the way of skin details or accessories

No brown skintones (skintones are mostly unnatural ones)

Icon Maker by lulljevic

Pros

A couple of different snake hair options and they come in a bunch of colours, some of which have cool patterns like the two shown above

Pretty decent fantasy and historical clothing options (though nothing Ancient Greek looking surprisingly)

Cons

Only one face shape/body type and it's very small and slender

Doesn't have additional snakey details like scales or slitted eyes

[unforth]

Gentle reminder that very little fandom labor is automated, because I think people forget that a lot.

That blog with a tagging system you love? A person curates those tags by hand.

That rec blog with a great organization scheme and pretty graphics? Someone designed and implemented that organization scheme and made those graphics.

That network that posts a cool variety of stuff? People track down all that variety and queue it by hand, and other people made all the individual pieces.

That post with umpteen links to helpful resources, and information about them? Someone gathered those links, researched the sources, wrote up the information about them.

That graphic about fandom statistics? Someone compiled those statistics, analyzed them, organized them, figured out a useful way to convey the information to others, and made the post.

That event that you think looks neat? Someone wrote the rules, created the blogs and Discords, designed the graphics, did their best to promo the event so it'd succeed.

None of this was done automatically. None of it just appears whole out of the internet ether.

I think everyone realizes that fic writing and fanart creation are work, and at least some folks have got it through their heads that gif creation and graphics and moodboards take effort, and meta is usually respected for the effort that goes into it, at least as far as I've seen, but I feel like a lot of people don't really get how much labor goes into curation, too.

If people are creating resources, curating content, organizing the creations of others, gathering information, and doing other fandom activities that aren't necessarily the direct action of creation, they're doing a lot of fandom labor, and it's often largely unrecognized.

Celebrate fan work!

To folks doing this kind of labor: I see you, and I thank you. You are the backbones of our fandoms and I love you.